The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Fuel pump question

Took the fuel line off the pump that goes to the carb and had the engine turned over to see if i could get some pressure. I did not get hardly any, so i removed the pump. when I actuated the pump lever with my hand it shot fuel right out! I cleaned it up a bit and worked the lever more. Seems like the diaphram works fine. I put it back in and made sure it was in correctly, and tried to feel for pressure with the engine being turned again and same result. Question: Is pump just wore out and does not move far enough inside the block to create the pressure? does this sound typical? I am assuming then that a new one is the way to go if so. thanks all.

Purney,

The fuel pump can be difficult to install. The actuator arm must be partially compressed against the cam lobe in order to bolt it up to the block. If the actuator arm was severely worn or the cam lobe was devastated, the pump wouldn't move sufficiently to tranfer fuel. This is possible, but not very probable. What is more likely is that the line is plugged somewhere on the suction side of the pump.

It could be inside the tank, or maybe a collapsed hose in the line somewhere. A plugged suction line would be much more probable considering your pump worked manually, but not when attached to the supply line from the tank.

Stuart

Thanks Stuart. I actually found an old thread where you described how to install this fuel pump and I followed it, very helpful! I had both lines off the pump when turned the engine over. I also blew the lines out as well as the pump and have bypassed the gas tank. What I do notice is that when I manually move the actuator arm it goes in quite a ways before it actually starts to pump. Although I doubted you last time on the coil thing, and I shouldnt have! I think I will take it into NAPA and compare it to a new one to see if there is a difference in the play. Thanks Stuart!

Purney,
The pump arm actually moves a little more by manually actuating the fuel pump than it does in the engine. One of the first things I was told about fuel pumps was not to manually actuate a new pump as it can tear the diaphram and shorten it's life.
Fred